View full sizeObtained by The Star-LedgerThe office door of physician Philip May of the Hunterdon Developmental Center is seen taped shut by order of the Human Services Police Department.

TRENTON — The doctor accused of performing unauthorized medical research on intellectually disabled residents at a state institution in Union Township has been fired, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Human Services said today.

The doctor, Philip May, was let go last month after he refused to participate in an internal hearing on charges that he abused clients at the Hunterdon Developmental Center, engaged in inappropriate physical contact and falsified documents, the spokeswoman, Nicole Brossoie, said.

May’s lawyer, John A. Azzarello of Chatham, said in an e-mail message last night his client chose instead to challenge the dismissal by seeking a ruling before "a neutral arbiter."

The department placed May on paid leave in December 2011, but did not bring administrative charges against him until last July 27 after an article in The Star-Ledger cited five sources who said they had direct knowledge of the investigation.

They sources said May was accused of leading a study of bone disease that involved administering potentially dangerous doses of Vitamin D and performing unnecessary tests on dozens of the institution’s disabled residents over two years without the consent of family members or guardians.

May, through his attorney, has maintained the Vitamin D was for treatment and not research because people with developmental disabilities are more prone to bone fractures

The Hunterdon Developmental Center is home to about 530 patients with developmental and intellectual disabilities who are largely dependent on employees to help feed, bathe and supervise them.

The 71-year-old May of Oxford was suspended without pay from his $181,977 a year job in August. The state Division of Criminal Justice is also investigating the accusations, which has touched off a shakeup of several other senior staff members as well.

Robin May, a nurse practitioner and May’s wife, was accused of violating patient privacy by posting photographs of Hunterdon residents on the website of a research foundation operated by the couple.

May has denied the charges, and has filed a lawsuit accusing the state of damaging her reputation. She is on a leave of absence until Feb. 1, Brossoie said.

The institution’s chief executive, William (Gus) Wall, retired in September after he was accused by the Department of Human Services with neglect of duty and other "sufficient" causes.

Wall was replaced last month by Lisa Coscia, a Califon resident who spent 20 years at a national agency that operates housing, employment and other social service programs for people with developmental disabilities.